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OFFICER DOWN:
Portrait of a Police SuicideAmy K. Lyons
Lyons Investigation and Consulting, L.L.C.
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Amy K. Lyons
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University of Arizona Police DepartmentDate of suicide September 28, 1999
Denny Mallory
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Anchorage Police DepartmentDate of suicide April 11, 2007
Chad Gunter
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http://www.njlawman.com/2002_line_of_duty_deaths.htm
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National POLICE Suicide Foundation reports an average of 450 Police Suicides every year
http://www.psf.org
Accurate statistics difficult to obtain due to incomplete records, mis-classified deaths, and stigmatization
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Every year more police officers die by their own hand than by felonious assault or other line-of-duty death
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22.99 per 100,000 Loo (2003) meta-analysis14.9 per 100,000 Marzuk et all (2002) New York City Police Officers18.1 per 100,000 Aamodt & Stalnaker (2001)
National study25 per 100,000 Lindsay & Lester (2001)
Northeastern Police Department
Police Suicide Rates
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Red flags
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Preoccupation with death Emotional distance Risk taking Increased alcohol use Unexpectedly contacting people that they have
been estranged from Giving away treasured possessions Recent devastating loss Noticeable change in personality/mood Change in personal appearance
Warning Signs
suicide risk ahead
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Risk Factors for Police Suicide
PTSD Depression Alcohol Abuse Job Stress/Burnout Relationship
Problems Availability of
Firearms
Mistrust of Mental Health System
Inability to separate from the “COP” identity
Perception that needing and/or asking for help implies weakness
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Constant exposure to death/ violence/ aggression/ tragedy
Hypervigilance Shift work/overtime/
weekends/ holidays Pressure from spouse/
significant other/ kids Public scrutiny Departmental
pressure
Self-imposed criticism Frustration with
Judicial system Same crime, same
people, Pendulum swing from
boredom to adrenaline dump and back again
Lack of proper equipment/ resources
Police Stress is Multidimensional
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Target = object of desire
Desire = motivating factor
Opportunity = favorable forming of circumstances
Crime triangle video clip
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TARGET/object of desire
END TO PAINDEATH
DESIRE/motivating factor
“FINAL STRAW”mental/physical pain,
loss, revenge
OPPORTUNITY/favorable forming of circumstances
LOSS OF AMBIVALENCEPlan, lethality, access to means
SUICIDE
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Portrait of a suicide
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Thierry Sloan Tucson Police Department Date of suicide January 10, 2000
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Ask for helpAsk for helpAsk for help
Lessons learned
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Confidentiality concerns Stigma associated with mental illness and
seeking professional help Possibility of job reassignment and/or loss of
firearm privileges Some departments require reporting of all
prescription medications (i.e. Antidepressants) thereby “letting the cat out of the bag”
“Officers help people, they don’t need help themselves”
Barriers to Seeking Help
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Why CIT?
“To combat the devastating effects and trauma brought about by the stigma of mental illness requires a profound community outcry, joined with linkages to appropriate community service infrastructures. CIT is a profound course of action. It is a hope, a voice, a necessary plan to correct the harmful and life-taking tragedies of stigma’s past and present.”
http://www.nami.org/PrinterTemplate.cfm?Section=CIT2&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=54881
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Comfort factorTrustProximityShare same experiences, know what it is like
to work there.Understand that sometimes all a person
needs to do is vent in a safe environment and have their feelings normalized before the problem gets too large for them to handle.
Peer supporters
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Early intervention – get to officers when the incident is fresh in their mind.
Allows participants to talk about thoughts, emotions and physical symptoms that they have been experiencing since the critical incident in a safe and confidential environment.
Allows groups to “fill in the blanks” and have a more comprehensive view of the incident.
Provides reassurance that what they are experiencing are “normal reactions to an abnormal event”
Team members assess the need for follow up and provide participants with information about typical stress reactions.
Critical Incident Stress Management
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Address the “elephant in the room”◦ Roll play talking to people about suicide◦ Reduce stigma◦ Dispel myths
Discuss local intervention/prevention programs and facilities
SUICIDE AWARENESS TRAINING
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“It is essential to remember that the consequences of seeking help are never as permanent as the consequences of suicide”
–Violanti
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Thierry Pierre Sloan
July 05, 1957 –
January 10, 2000